I was sure there used to be a thread for this show, but my searches came up empty, so for anyone whose appetite for political satire on TV isn't sated by the standard bearers at The Daily Show, give Real Time another look.

I've always had reservations about Bill Maher...Politically Incorrect always seemed to degenerate into shrill shouting matches that taint almost all politcally oriented talk shows. I thought ABC's firing him was lame, because it was CYA rather than quality related. Moving to commercial-free, unbleeped HBO was an improvement, but the writing was never really up to par, more bark than bite. But discontent provides fertile ground for intelligent comedians, so now Real Time is relevant again.

Bill still leads with his chin in the opening monologue -- weak, overreaching bits that he follows up with sheepish grins that reveal he knows just how lame the jokes are. But the other scripted bits, like New Rules and Reading the News to George, have real venom and wit. And Bill finally is learning to actually moderate discussions, keeping his guests on point some of the time (but you could start a Seconds-to-Saddam drinking game, waiting for the first bizarre linking of any random issue to Iraq; this week it took 4 minutes to compare Martha Stewart to our favorite deposed dictator).

This week's panelists included a thoroughly scandalized (by Bill's potty mouth)Carol Mosely Braun and Rob Scheider fer crissakes, and I actually watched it twice. He even makes Michael Moore and Andrew Sullivan palatable, though Ann Coulter is still beyond redemption.

Most importantly, he actually uses his faux-libertarian schtick to bring the funny, and not just to pose as hipper-than-thou:

"If everyone was wrong about WMD, somebody has to say "my bad!". For some reason, the two words this president just can't seem to say are sorry and nuclear.Something is terribly wrong when the only person who's been fired over terrorism is me."

And re: Asian Bird Flu..."Mysterious asian diseases don't just come knocking on your door...unless you're Neil Bush."

Thanks for starting the thread snaxx.

The most curious moment for me this season was when Pompous Asshole (read Ron Silver) decided to topple the campaign of Al Sharpton.

Now, if Al really had a shot at the nomination, maybe Ron would have had a point. But he doesn't have that shot. And Al does bring a lot of good points (as well as as a wonderful sense of humor) to the debates that would otherwise be ignored, so Ron just came off as irrelevant as most of his performances in movies & tv these past 20 years.

What was truly disappointing was how riled Al got by Ron. He should have kept his cool.

I hope this forum keeps on going.

I have really enjoyed Real Time this past season. I think it finally found its niche and it really delivers! I loved this past weeks show, but then I have great respect for CMB and AS. I totally loved Rob Schneider too, who knew he could be intelligent funny AND adorable (apparently everyone other than me!)

Anyone know who's on tomorrow?

ETA: Ron Silver is an ass. I just don't think I can say it enough. I didn't mind angry Al, I think we need people to feel passionate about their principles and defend them passionately against assholes. Of course, "the scream" didn't faze me either, I still voted for Dean.

I've seen the show a few times even since I started subscribing only because I wanted "Angels in America". Anyway, I was surpised by how intelligent Rob Schneider actually was discussing the issues last week. If only he applied it to choosing scripts. Still, I'd like to see him back.
The funniest stuff so far, however, was Maher's "Coby Teith" spoof that started the last two shows.
It's a great show to see, since I miss "Politically Incorrect".

groovygirl: I appreciate your passion. I was a Clark supporter, largely due to his appearance on Real Time last season (are there even seasons anymore? HBO has really changed the television terrain.)

I don't recall seeing Ann Coulter (I have a 4-letter code word for her, but I'm afraid it's too rough&tumble for this crowd) this season, and I don't know how I feel about that. I need somebody to despise and I'm not sure if Total Asshole fits the bill....

For some reason my last post double-posted. I apologize and will not let that happen again. (Please -- no more warnings! Sorry!)

tannerbrowndog, I totally respect Clark! I have for several years. The Coulterbeast hasn't been on yet this "season", which probably explains why I have enjoyed it so much. Does your term, by chance, rhyme with punt?

If you go on Fametracker, there is quite the anti-fan club going on in the "Ann Coulter" thread.

On topic, what do you think will be a New Rule this week? I'm guessing GWB's "proof" that he wasn't AWOL during Vietnam.

Wow, do I feel stupid for advocating on this show's behalf. Tonight's hour was pretty frickin' lame.

Among the lowlights-

Another recurrence of the sad inability to get through a show without at least one satellite interview losing audio (seriously, you'd think HBO had just cracked the technology and were beta testing with Philo Farnsworth). At this point, I hope someone is fired, or at least urged to change their major.

I know I complained about shrill shout-fests and other demagoguery, but after the cavernous tedium of enduring a panel that apparently disagrees about nothing except the social relevance of Teatgate, and barely listens to each other or to their moderator, I say bring on the straw men! Instead of a lively debate, this seemed more like a polite dinner conversation where noone wants to step on anyone's toes. On more than one occasion, Bill's question was literally met with blank stares. To be sure, sometimes Bill just likes to hear himself talk...however stultifying they found him, they could at least pretend to be engaged for the sake of us poor viewers. What a snooze.

The only time I felt a twinge was during the segment on Mel Gibson's The Passion; even as I cringed at Jason Alexander going on at great lengths and to little effect about the true nature of Jesus, and Mad Max's balancing of artistic vs. commercial concerns, he did get the best line of the night about Adam Sandler, whose movie opens opposite Mel's, being "another Jew who kills a messiah". Now that's comedy.

Also, I don't have hard evidence, but I swear that lame Dean-joke about the Iraqi politician who loses his election and vows "We're goin' to Basra, and then Mosgul, and then Tikrit!" was done weeks ago by The Daily Show, where Jon's version had the benefit of not only being funnier, but actually topical. Can the first Harold Stassen joke be far behind?

Oh, and Heather Wilson was enjoyable, she managed to defend her president without disgracing herself (which ain't easy, especially these days). Two weeks in a row with a pol who's engaging, forthright, and has some semblence of humor (referring to Jennifer Granholm, NOT Carol Mosely Braun)! It's good to see that John McCain isn't alone in that boat.

Agreed. Too bad, because last week's show was quite enjoyable. The guests do make the difference.

FTers seem to be of the general opinion that if you like Bill Maher, you are a self-loathing feminist, because Bill is a misogynistic asshole.

Or something.

I can't help it -- I think he rocks. Okay, I don't think I'd like him as a person, but I like him as a TV personality. Frankly, I agree with him on just about everything -- from religion to marriage to American politics in general. I like that he doesn't pull punches, takes the piss out of everybody, and is actually a good interviewer. He at least manages to cut through the bullshit and ask questions I'd like to ask politicos.

That being said, I agree the guests play a large part in making the show watchable past the monologue and first few interviews. Most of the time, the celeb guests look like the have no idea what they're talking about. But that's nothing new, I guess.

Real Time feels like a lesser Daily Show, that's longer, meaner, and with more curse words. Both satisfy my needs based on how pissed I am about the news that week. I think Politically Incorrect suffered because of the format, the time length, and the fact that the Mouse was running the show. I'm really glad Bill has found a place on HBO, where they won't fine his ass for saying "fuck." I didn't particularly love the latest show, but like I said, I actually like Bill, so I mainly watch for him.

This show along with the Daily Show is my outlet for laughing about the crazy world we live in. I just love his New Rules and opening monologue. I love when the conservatives get ripped apart during the discussions and Ian McKellan rocks. Christine Todd Whitman needs to wake up and stop defending the Bush administration. I expect more from her since I'm a woman too. Also, I'm very excited about Bill's stand on Gay Marriages. This coming from a man who says marriage isn't his cup of tea. All in all a great way to wrap up the work week.

Ian McKellan was wonderful last night! And I loved Maher's response to that bs Mr. Kirkpatrick was spewing about "where I'm from, etc." "It's not about you it's about them." *ding-ding-ding* We have a winnah!

Kwame is the mayor of the wonderful city I grew up in and still live near. Sadly, he was the best mayoral choice. But he's an idiot. His mother is/was a US Congreswoman and that's the best she could do? I absolutely hated him last night.

I like Christie Whitman. Like John McCain, her support for Bush seems lukewarm at best. I loved her suggestion that we move to a system where marriage is purely a religious matter and that legal benefits only come from a civil ceremony. That was such a un-Moral Majority thing to say.

That said, I am convinced the RNC has nudie pix of her or something. Why else for the very uneasy support? And WTF was up with the "we couldn't get scientists to agree for THIRTY years so that's why the EPA did nothing" BS? I just wanted to slap her.

And Ian McKellen was superb. I don't think that he made a single mis-step. That the voice of reason had to come from abroad made me cry. Why must collective Americans be so stupid?

Bill's "New Rule" that presidents must be foreign made me laugh. I couldn't agree more. Maybe there's someone from France who wants the job. <grin>

Edited to fix spelling error. I usually have kids to chase after in the background hence the poor spelling.

That was a great birthday gift Bill gave Ralph Nader - a cake shaped like a Ford Pinto, with burning candles all over the rear end. And Bill's right: the 70-year-old Nader looks at least 20 years younger.

Watching him talk with Bill, I heard the same sincere, concerned public advocate that I've admired for decades. Shit, Ralph - why do you have to screw everything up by running for President?

I really enjoyed this episode - lovelovelove Ralphie, and ITA arachne, the cake was awesome! Ian McKellan was great too, and that woman from the Conservative Woman's League (?) was just so unbelievably ridiculous it was hilarious. Homosexuals caused the fall of the Roman empire? wtf?
But as for Whitman, my hatred knows no bounds. Her "ethics" are nonexistant at best. She is another corporate cronie and screwed Anniston, Alabama - the most contaminated place on earth.

[slightly OT] From what I have read, the western Roman Empire fell, not due to anyone's
sexuality, but because there was so little to eat. Too many farmers abandoned growing grains and vegetables, in favor of cash crops like grapes and olives. By the fifth century,
many poorer Romans were reduced to eating whatever they could scrounge. Any government that cannot feed its own people, is on very shaky ground. [/slightly OT]

Darn it - and I thought I could add "Fall of an Empire" to my resume.

Back on topic - The Nader carcake was awesome. Did he seem a little dishelved to anyone else?

And I have to say I have a smidge of respect for CTW, after talking about managing Bush's campaign in Jersey and then going against the standard RNC reply to gay marriage, and speaking in favor of a civil union-type thing.

I only caught part of last night's show, but during New Rules Bill gave us, in discussing the Kerry's wife's reluctance to appear with him on the campaign trail, what might be the dirtiest/funniest political one-liners of the year:

"Kerry's wife is the Heinz ketchup lady, after all....that's why he has to smack her on the bottom to make her come."

That's GOLD, people.

ETA: Today I am a Channel Surfer. Hooray!

Just watched the first show of the new season.

I don't even like Michael Moore that much- and I certainly have no love for Drier- but I loved this episode. Why? Two words? Kim Campbell. Four more? Can have my babies. And I'm not even a man. And I completely died at Bill and Michael's begging of Ralph Nader. Heh. I love Ralph, but they're right- now is NOT the time.

The monologue was a little weak, as were the New Rules- but Bill's on the warpath and that makes it worth watching.

Anyway- more thoughts?

I really missed this show. As much as Michael Moore tends to irritate me, he really got me with the "So would I be a flip-flopper" line. Classic! The Nader begging was great, I almost expected him to announce he was pulling out of the race right there, but alas, a girl can dream.

I loved the New Rule theme of how embarassing it is that we can't pay attention to our National Conventions. This is something I feel so deeply ashamed of this week. The one opportunity we have to listen to the candidates and the parties in their own words, not 5 second news clips of iterative bulletpoints and filtered through opinions of political pundits and talking heads, and as Bill said we can't find the time to turn off reruns of Celebrity Poker. I felt so defeated this week that I had to resign myself to the fact that for all our bitching and moaning, the American people get the representation they deserve.

I'm even more convinced than ever that Nader has been bought by the Republicans.

And I'm SO GLAD that Maher pointed out the unwarranted vitriol the media uses to discredit anything Al Sharpton says reeks of 21st Century racism. TDS and Jon Stewart made a similar observation. It would be one thing to disprove his points, but they take the approach of "There goes that crazy Negro again. Why do black people always have to shout?"

Kim Campbell? You mean Kim "I was Prime Minister of Canada for a couple of seconds" Campbell?

Aah! I used to bitch about PI, but I want Bill back on Canadian TV!



I hope this article makes you feel better.

It doesn't make me feel better because 24.4 million Americans combined watching a program on all three networks and the cable stations is pathetic. 22 million people regularly tune in to watch CSI every week and that only airs on one station.

Also, there is the fact that they couldn't be bothered to devote more than an hour a night and on Tuesday night they didn't even do that.

That said, I totally forgot this was on tonight so thanks for bumping this thread up. I actually like MM so this will hopefully be good.

Gorey and elrhino- Yeah, what both of you said.

And yes, ex-Canadian Prime Minister Kim Campbell. I loved what she had to say on the show. (Particularly when she pointed out that if anyone used a God-wants-me-to-be-the-leader-of-this-country approach to get elected in Canada they'd be laughed off. -I'm paraphrasing of course.-)

And I'm glad to hear people standing up for Al Sharpton, even if I don't always agree with him 100%, I think it's disgusting that a lot of the media likes to treat him like 'that crazy black guy.' I hope Bill did manage to get Andre 3000 really riled up (about Sharpton and voting)- and if not I'm hoping Barak Obama managed it (they showed him talking to Andre over the end credits)... Boy, do I love Obama. If I wasn't in a swing state I'd have to vote for him this year, just for the hell of it. Him and Kim Campbell. Love them. Want to go on camping trips with them, even. So smart. Heh.

(Just adding, off topic- ya know, I don't think I'm the most well-read person out there on political matters, but I'm impressed by how little attention some people give what's going on here.. My sister didn't even know who the Vice President is until recently, and she's pretty bright. *sigh* Sorry, off topic, done.)

Viewership actually WENT DOWN from the 2000 DNC.

Regardless of your position, with all that's happened in the past 4 years ... the election decided by a few hundred votes in Florida, the recounts, 9/11, and a war in Iraq where Americans are still dying on a daily basis ... to think I had this naive notion that Americans might be more energized when we are facing the most critical election of our lifetime .... its saddening beyond words. I would be lying if I said it hasn't crossed my mind that the degree of laziness, gluttony, willfull ignorance and self absorbtion of the American public seems to mark the end of our forefather's "noble experiment".

Am I crazy or did the Republican congressman admit to being a total hypocrite on the flip-flopping issue? When Michael Moore asked if he would be considered a flip-flopper by the congressman if he changed his stance on campaign finance reform the congressman's reply was that it depended on his perspective.

Yes and I haven't see a look of fear in a man's eyes like that since I saw Bush in F 9/11 when he was trying to defend Bush against the panel.

Also, I loved Barak and Al's convincing Andre to vote.

Elrihino, I am so grateful my folks thought to give me flowers and take me to a nice restaurant the first time I voted. I've hardly ever missed an election since '78. I wish more 18 year olds would get the same treatment - spread the word to parents of teens!

I love this show and I'm so glad it's back. Good timing.

The most interesting part of this show for me? As the camera pulled back at the end, after Maher's (dead-on) tirade about Americans not watching the convention, the seat Rep. Dreier was sitting in? Empty. Guess he didn't like getting picked on by everyone else. Yeah, pick up your ball and go home. That'll show em! Bah. What an asshat.

Edited because posting at 3am = bad grammar.

I'm a bit amazed by the Kim Campbell love. Up in Canada, she's a bit of a joke. I haven't heard much about her since her party lost the 1993 election in total and utter flames. She was a member of the Progressive Conservative party, our "right wing" party at the time.

Maybe the 10+ years have mellowed her out.

Word. I guess he's used to appearing on television talk shows that allow his opinion to go unchallenged. When Michael Moore asked him if he had seen F-9/11, and he said "no," yet kept saying how it had been "roundly debunked,"(one of the GOP talking points about the film, christ, how many times have I heard that) his asshatedness had been solidified. I certainly don't mind someone criticizing the film -- so long as they've seen it. It'd be like Elvis Mitchell reviewing a film based only on its trailer he'd seen on TV.



That's interesting. I've no knowledge of Canadian politics but just kind of figured after she made that impassioned and pretty dead-on point to Nader about how third-parties work for the people in Canada, that she was one smart cookie. I'll have to google her and see what the whole deal is.

I think Maher is an awesome host. He lets everyone speak and not get too nasty -- he even chastised the audience last night who reacted to Moore's eye rolling to Dreier by boo'ing the guy. Granted Dreier was a humorless asshat, but he did deserve to be heard.

All the more asshatedness of the "I'm taking my ball and going home, hmpf" act is that it was HE who came out with guns ablazing taking jabs at Moore for the very begining. The very first two things out of his mouth were he was going to convert Moore to Republican and some glib remark about how Moore didn't get microphone time at the DNC (Yeah, like the Republicans are going to give any microphone time to Pat Robertson). Hey homey, if youz gonna to step up to the mike, don't act like a punk when you GETZ SERVED !!!!

Yeah, me too. I really like what she had to say last night, but I'll have to look her up. I'd hate to think I'm singing the praises of this woman if she's out there openly killing puppies or something. Boy, if she turns out to be an ass I'm gonna feel like such an idiot.

Am I the only one who's jaw dropped with horror when Drier announced he'd been backstage talking to Andre3000? I felt so bad for Andre. I think it's terrible to waste your vote, but no one deserves THAT as punishment.

I didn't mean to say that Campbell was an idiot. And our Conservative party has its lunatics (especially nowadays) but there seemed to be a more concerted effort (at times) to live up to the Compassionate Conservative cause. Ideologically speaking, she seemed to be more to the centre than to the right of her party. Politically, she was in a party whose previous leader was generally loathed and she made some real PR blunders.

Here's a biography.

I watched the rerun of the show last night because it was just sooo good, and I kind of got the impression that when Bill was bantering with Andre3000 in the beginning that Andre looked pretty lost and couldn't really answer the questions Bill asked him. Then Bill let him go by saying, "Please continue to make records," or some snarky thing like that. Not that that diminishes my love for Andre, but I think he might be in a little over his head.



Word.



No implication taken, memememe76. I'm grateful that someone lends background to a guest with whom I've no other knowledge than what I see on the screen. (Kind of like watching Al Sharpton speak and having no prior knowledge that in the passing years he has mellowed in his tone and manner somewhat, too.) I read the link, thanks! One of the funny and intersting things from it:



Hee! "Avril? Hate it. Phaedra? Hate it? Douglas? Ehh...not a dude...think I'll just go with...Kate, Karen, nah...Kim! Yeah! Kim!"

I was a youngin' during the Campbell era (12?) so my memories are a little fuzzy. But aside from the joke-that-wasn't-all-that funny imitation of Chretien (and his facial paralyzation), my politics prof in first year university said he believed her major downfall came A) because she came in after Mulroney, and Canadians were sick of the PCs, and B) because she spoke the truth about the economy and it didn't go over well. IIRC, she stated something about how it was going to be at least 5 or so years before the economy rebounded because of the ties to the world and American economies - which proved true, but people didn't like hearing it from the prime minister.

I don't know. I was too young to remember, but in the present climate, I'm willing to give snaps to any politician willing to be honest about anything. Even if she was a -*spit*- Conservative.

More on topic - I've never been able to catch this show... can we get it in Canada? Or do I have to resort to... more unsavoury means?

I believe this show is on HBO, right? And we don't get HBO. Boo! CTV should purchase the rights to this show and air it on Friday nights, since The Daily Show isn't on.

When Bill Maher and Michael Moore dropped to their knees and begged Nader not to run, I just jumped out of my skin with that "right on" feeling. I got a good chuckle out of that presidential mannerism/giving a midget a prostate exam bit, too. I don't care what anyone says, Bill Maher is SO the man sometimes.

Heh. I got that too. The best part of that, for me, is that I knew a girl in HS named Kim that changed her name to Phoebe because Kim was too common. Heh.

Anyhoo, thanks for the all the info on Campbell. Heh, if she's what passes for conservative in Canada? I know where I'm moving. (Sorry, don't know much about Canadian politics- not that I'm not open to learning as much as possible- but it amused me to find out she'd be considered in any way conservative considering her reactions on the show.)

Regarding Campbell and Canadian politics (and keep in mind that this is my probably biased interpretation):

Back in the day (80s) the three major parties were the Liberal party (pretty centrist), the New Democratic Party (left of centre) and the Progressive Conservatives (right of centre). In recent years, the Reform party rose out of Western Canada (kind of like the American South) with a more conservative platform. The two parties effectively split a lot of the conservative votes in the country, which let the Liberals lead pretty much uninterrupted for a long while. They recently merged to form the new Conservative party -- a much more conservative incarnation than it used to be. In hindsight, the PC party was not that bad -- especially compared to the current state of Republicans in the U.S. or even the current Conservative party in Canada.

Anyways, enough on Canadian politics -- loved seeing Bill Maher back on the air, and thought he made a great point about people watching the conventions. Here's to hoping he has Jon Stewart as a guest soon!

Color me (somewhat) surprised that Canada doesn't have any (!) nukes. Okay, so I know they aren't a "power" when it comes to the things, but I thought they might have at least one or two sitting around "just in case".

Right now, although on the face of it, it would make political sense for Nader get out of the race, I'm kind of aprehensive about it. If he endorsed Kerry...because he'd almost have to...wouldn't that incite more dyed in the wool conservatives to come out to vote for Bush? Well it's all speculation at this point (but that begging-on-their-knees bit while Campbell tried to use...er...logic to persuade him was some GOLD!).

My interpretation is that Drier was so unhinged by Maher and Moore's fierce defense of liberalism that when he saw the two approach Nader on their knees, he feared that they would go down on Nader thus publically linking him, Dreir, to the politically lethal homosexual lifestyle.

HEHE! To all your posts... I had forgotten about the premiere until last night but I'm glad I got to see it. Poor Dreier. I almost felt sorry for him...almost. I'm glad that he's (Mahar) gotten rid of all the extraneous stuff and is concentrating on the guests. Well, almost all of the extraneous stuff. That Andre 3000 piece was stupid. I'm glad the guy is voting and all, but he seems rather vacuous.

This is one of my absoluate favorite news shows and I'm so glad it was back. Obviously Drier was a huge asshat. I didn't think he started so bad, but if you are going to make an argument over one of the most popular films of the year with the director on the panel, then WATCH IT YOU DUMBASS! Either that, or just sit back during the Farenheit debates. What a jerk.

The best part for me was the "Flip-flop" metaphors Moore kept throwing out. I think this is one of those Republican lines that keeps getting repeated over and over, but if you actually ask someone, they can't give you the specifics. Bill started to say that "the bill was changed," which is true and the reason why Kerry changed his mind, but then got drowned out. Why won't anyone make this point?!?! The funding originally was going to come from the "rich-people" tax breaks (Kerry wanted to vote yes) and then was changed to the American taxpayers (Kerry voted no). No one mentions this small detail and it makes all the difference. I really liked how they were equating this flip-flop mentality to simply learning more and having different opinions. Because it's true!

(off soapbox now)

Anyways, Moore was right on, Campbell was great, Drier was an idot, and I still heart Bill. (Let's tune up that opening monologue, though. Eek!)

I really miss Politically Incorrect. This show is an 'ok' replacement for me.

I agree, Andre seemed so over his head in the first segment. Bill was trying to get him riled up and excited about his new role and he just wouldn't bite. I give him major props for getting out there and encouraging young adults to vote.

I can't wait for Ann-orexic Coulter-geist to show up. Boy do I loathe that women. But she does make for good tv.

There was another PI guest that was great for the snark too... some bible-banging-virgin young woman with dark hair. Heck, I hope he enlists all his snark worthy right wing religious enthusiasts on.

Yes, I can't remember her name either, but I do miss Lakita Garth.

{Google sub-result: Oh my. There is actually a group called "Tradition, Family and Property!}

Her deal was that she was saving herself for the right man but my grandmother, who doesn't remember her name either, swears that she suffered from a morbid fear of sexual intercourse.

I'm glad Bill is back - and all the way through the election too.



I give Andre credit for his voting campaign, but I thought this segment was really lame. He didn't seem to know how to respond to Bill's questions about Al Sharpton.

I can't remember the name of that "Bible-thumping" virgin either - she has not ever been a guest on Bill's HBO show, although she appeared frequently on "PI." I wonder if she objects to the profanity on HBO?

I'm editing because I did a quick search on that guest - her name is Christine O'Donnell. Here's a link that describes her work/mission:

http://www.politicalusa.com/columnists/gil...illette_018.htm

Heh. Great nicknames for the frothing beast. I, however, hope to never have to lay eyes or ears on her again. I always wondered why Bill had her on PI all the time. There's sticking to your convictions, and then there's barking, guana-shit mad. She crossed the line constantly.

I haven't seen Real Time before--it was very entertaining. I'm from Colorado, and seeing Gov. Owens was pretty disturbing. (Colo. used to have such cool governors; Romer, Dick Lamm.) I wanted someone to ask him about cutting 4 million dollars from the Denver Public Library funding, but I guess it's off-topic.

Loved the way Bill wouldn't let either of the flaming conservatives slide about the infamous 'Seven Minutes.' Honestly, I don't know how anyone can defend that response. But of course, Dreier hadn't seen the clip, because he hadn't seen Fahrenheit, so he was talking out of his ass(hat).

The Nader-begging was priceless. Too bad it didn't work.

So when is this on first-run?

Me, too. But she hasn't been on in some time. I like to take credit for that. Heh-heh. After the putrid stick wrote that column calling Max Cleland a coward, I sent an e-mail to the show to say that Bill shouldn't give that crackpot little fascist any airtime. I know he has great respect for Cleland.

I wonder if Coulter has gone too far even for Bill, and that's why we haven't seen her on the show. I think I would actually stop watching Real Time altogether--even though I enjoy it more than just about anything--if she showed up again. She just throws my psyche into disarray.